Breathing Mistakes of the Beginner Swimmer

Recently, a friend convinced me that it was a good idea to compete in a triathlon. I had wanted to lose weight and get into shape, so I said yes. By this time, I had already participated in a local 10k race; I had some experience riding my bike for extended periods of time, but what I hadn’t realized is that I hadn’t gone swimming in years. Eventually, I gathered the courage needed to get back into the gym pool and try to remember what I learned during the swim lessons I took when I was in 5th grade.

After a few swim sessions, it became apparent that swimming was very much like riding a bike. I was able to move in the water and I knew the basic techniques. However, after ten minutes, I was completely exhausted. It didn’t take long for me to understand that I was swimming inefficiently.

I asked my competitive swimming friends for advice, did some research online and soon became more aware that much to the cause for my inefficient swimming came from an improper breathing technique while moving through the water. Mastering the correct breathing technique is one that requires time and dedication, not to mention impeccable timing.

I comprised a list of common breathing mistakes for the novice reader and they have proven most helpful. Here is the basic list:

1) Turning the face too soon

Swimmers who turn the face too soon for air do it before the recovery arm on the breathing side enters the water, throwing off the natural rotation sequence of the body. The swimmer will tend to speed up the recovery process to compensate, while also losing propulsion power.

2) Turning your face too late

Swimmers who turn the face too late will hesitate with each stroke, breathing during recovery rather than on the underwater stroke.

3) Lifting your Head

Lifting the head will force the shoulders to remain still during the stroke. If the shoulders are not rolling, crucial propulsion power is can be lost.

4) Pulling your head back and out of alignment

Pulling your head out of alignment will cause inefficient arm rotation. This causes drag while you move through the water.

These are just a number of the breathing mistakes that make swimming much more difficult than it needs to be. It is always important to consult with an expert if you are thinking about swimming regularly. The health benefits of swimming will definitately be worth the effort.